Hollywood Tycoon [US Entertainment + Business War]

Hughes Electronics was still a little-known company at this time, but it would change its name to Direct Satellite Television (DirecTV) in 1994, and it would be acquired by Fox Broadcasting Corporation.Under the Fox Broadcasting Company, it quickly became the nation's premier satellite television operator.And until 1998, after Guide Satellite acquired American Satellite, it became the satellite TV giant in the entire North American region.At its peak, Guide Satellite monopolized 98% of satellite TV subscribers in the United States, and abruptly forced the second-ranked Echo Satellite to give up its personal satellite TV business.It can be said that the Fox TV network established by Fox Broadcasting Company can become the fourth national TV network in the United States in a short period of time. ".

A TV station can send their programs to the audience's TV through wireless or cable, but the average TV station is concentrated in Los Angeles or New York, so how can the audience in Miami, Chicago, and Dallas watch it?Even if there are cable companies in these cities, your program must be sent to the cable company, right?Before satellite TV, TV stations relied on cables or microwaves for transmission, but both of these methods have a fatal flaw, the transmission distance is limited and long-distance transmission will cause signal attenuation.Therefore, a large number of microwave stations or signal strengthening stations have to be built to transmit TV signals.

But since there are satellites, three communication satellites located on the equator can cover most of the area except the Antarctic and the North Pole.More importantly, a satellite can transmit at least 20 to 30 TV programs, unlike cable or microwave, which can only transmit one set.Therefore, the foundation of the vigorous development of cable TV business in the United States is the rise of satellite TV business.

In addition, many areas in the United States are sparsely populated, and cable TV stations will not lay their services anywhere, so personal satellite subscription services are also very necessary.All this determines that if Dongfeng International really wants to get involved in the distribution of TV business in the United States, it is very necessary to acquire a satellite company.

But Jed is also very clear that satellite TV companies burn a lot of money, and a satellite needs a lot of dollars to maintain from production to launch to final operation.Even if the satellites are leased in the early stage, the expenditure is very huge.

Jed frowned, and said after a long time: "Ms. Lansing, I admit that your view is very correct, but Dongfeng International does not have so much money at present."

"Money is not a problem." Lansing replied quite confidently, "If my information is correct, News Corp. is seeking to acquire a satellite TV company in the United States. However, since this company is registered in Australia, the United States The Ministry of Commerce has been very strict on their qualifications for purchase. I think you and Mr. Murdoch can join forces to acquire if necessary. Your American identity and your funds will allow you to occupy half of the new satellite TV company The above shares. According to my observation, Mr. Murdoch has great ambitions for satellite TV, but when he faces difficulties, he will also choose other ways to complete his work wisely. Therefore, I am very Boldly recommend that you acquire Hughes Electronics."

Of course, Jed knows that Lansing's statement is not wrong at all. Murdoch has always had some kind of ambition in the TV media, especially in establishing a satellite TV company belonging to his News Corporation.But Murdoch is indeed a person who can adapt to changes. In order to break the BBC's monopoly on British TV, News Corporation acquired a British TV station and reorganized it into the second-rated TV station in the UK.

In Asia, Murdoch established "Star Satellite TV", and after occupying India, he wanted to enter the Chinese market.It is a pity that China prohibits foreign investment into the media industry, so Murdoch's Hong Kong Satellite TV Chinese Channel (now Satellite TV Chinese Channel) announced to abandon the mainland market after several years of struggling.

However, after Murdoch saw no hope of entering the mainland market with a sole proprietorship, he boldly chose to cooperate with mainland TV people to form Phoenix Satellite TV and enter the mainland market in disguise.Of course, after the limited opening of the Chinese TV market, Murdoch still gave up Phoenix Satellite TV and strongly promoted his Star TV to return to the mainland market.

Although Jed knows that his Dongfeng International will definitely break up with Fox one day, at least for now the two companies will still work together.The important thing is that besides the funds in Fox's hands, Jed also has News Corporation's media resources in Asia.Jade, who is a Chinese at heart, still looks forward to returning to the Chinese TV market. With the help of News Corporation, it is not difficult for Jade to set up a Chinese-language TV production company in Hong Kong or Taiwan.

"Ms. Lansing, I'm very happy that you can join Dongfeng International." Jed stood up and held Lansing's hand. "From now on, you are the president of Dongfeng International. I will no longer intervene in the management of Dongfeng International except for assisting in handling some affairs. In addition to your salary and dividends, you will also receive a bonus from Dongfeng International if you have worked for five years. 5% stake."

The reason why Jed paid a lot of money to keep Lansing is because of her ability in film management. However, Jed has not established a film company yet, so let Lansing work on TV first.But Jed knew that Lansing's friend Stanley Jafei was a manager who was very good at TV media operations, but according to the existing historical trajectory, Jafei should be on Paramon's side at this time, right?But Jed still asked very unwillingly, "Ms. Lansing, I want to know one thing. Where is your friend Mr. Jia Fei currently working?"

Lansing smiled slightly. She and Jia Fei once formed "Jia Fei and Lansing Production Company", which is considered a small independent production company in Hollywood.Since he came here, how could the boss just ask Jia Fei?Lansing knew the difference between his own ability and Jia Fei's. His own ability was in promotion and distribution, while Jia Fei was good at administrative management.Lansing knew that Jade's most important company at present, Dongfeng Production Company still lacked a powerful president to manage the company.

Now that his boss asked, Lansing certainly didn't hesitate to recommend his friends. "Paramount is planning to acquire our company recently. I have little interest in joining Paramount, so I chose to give up Paramount's invitation and come to your side. Jia Fei is currently negotiating with Paramount. Ramon expressed his willingness to invite him to serve as the general manager of his media company."

"What's a Paramount Media manager to do?" Jed said now with the tone that, before Paramount and CBS were reunited to form Viacom, Paramount's TV business was a piece of shit. "You tell Mr. Jia Fei that Dongfeng Production still lacks a president. If he is interested, he can get the position immediately."

"I'll take the boss's words with me." Lansing was naturally happy for his friend.In Lansing's view, although a big company like Paramount has the benefits of a big company, the lack of vitality and enterprising spirit is also the disadvantage of a big company.

Lansing is eager to achieve success, but success standing on the shoulders of giants will halve the joy of success.So Lansing screened out the relatively powerful new companies in Hollywood, and soon she noticed Jade's Dongfeng Production.Hollywood is a place without secrets. The news that Dongfeng Productions had successfully sold two sitcoms to NBC spread quickly in Hollywood, and Lansing naturally knew about it.

At this time, NBC is still a national TV network that pays great attention to the quality of TV dramas. It is conceivable that the company's strength can be obtained from this TV network.And more importantly, with two TV dramas ordered at one time, the future development prospects of Dongfeng Production should not be underestimated.After learning that Dongfeng International, the sister company of Dongfang Production, was going to recruit a president, Lansing immediately submitted her resume and planned a draft for the future management of Dongfeng International.

Sure enough, he persuaded Jade and brought his friend a good job. Lansing felt that he was still very successful.

After negotiating with Lansing, Jed tried to find a way to meet Rupert Murdoch.There are four major media empires in the United States in later generations: Walt Disney, News Corporation, Time Warner and Viacom.Among them, News Corporation and Viacom are firmly controlled by one person, that is, Murdoch and Redstone.These two old men can be regarded as tycoons in Hollywood and even in the international media industry. The media resources in their hands are enough to subvert a country.And I have to say that these two people are the idols in Jed's heart.

But compared to Redstone, Jed prefers Murdoch a bit.Because Redstone was not ruthless enough, later generations of Viacom experienced a major split between the Paramount Department and the Columbia Department, abruptly kicking Viacom, which was originally a strong alliance, from No. [-] in the United States to No. [-] in the United States. .Murdoch has accomplished many impossible things, such as stealing the BBC's ratings share in the UK, becoming the owner of the TV station with the highest ratings in the country in India, and even having his presence in the mainland market, which is said to be impossible to enter. Phoenix Television.Although Murdoch's journalistic integrity is questionable, his ability to manage the media is indeed one of the best.

We must know that Walt Disney, Time Warner, and Viacom are all fighting locally, and News Corp. is indeed fighting across the sea, and he has to worry about being stabbed in the back by the British, but he let the Fox TV network beat the old three in the United States to become One of the top three ratings.For such a controversial figure, Jed didn't know what his inner evaluation of him was.

Originally, a person like Jed was not qualified to meet Murdoch at all, but Jed's surname still helped him.When Murdoch learned that Jed was actually a descendant of the founding father of the United States, he immediately agreed to Jed's visit.Although the United States is a country with equal opportunities, it is undeniable that people from the founding father's family still have some aura.Especially for people like Murdoch who want to enter the US market, if they can get the family behind Jade to endorse them, then the possibility of the American people accepting themselves will be much higher.So not only did Jed get a two-hour interview, but he even got a chance to have dinner with Murdoch.

Although Jed in this life can be regarded as a playboy who grew up in a honeypot, Jed is also very clear about the gap between himself and Murdoch himself.Just like in China in that time and space, some children of county magistrates dared to call themselves "princelings".At best, Jed can only be regarded as an influential rich man in Los Angeles. Outside of California, who knows him?Therefore, Murdoch's dinner invitation is definitely an honor for Jed, and even the old Bell actively chooses suitable clothes for Jed.

Although Murdoch's invitation to dinner was in New York, Jed obediently flew to New York just to have a meal with Murdoch.Of course, the place Murdoch invited is naturally the best restaurant in New York, and the central garden of New York City is outside the high floor-to-ceiling windows.Of course, Jed had heard of the name of this restaurant.

The "Michelin Restaurant Guide" gave it the highest rating of three stars; the "Mobil Travel Guide" also gave it a five-star rating; and the "Gourmet Guide" not only gave it ten stars but also rated it as "the world's 100 most unmissable restaurants. Dining room".Murdoch not only invited Jed to eat here, but also booked the entire restaurant very boldly.

One must know that this is a place where you can't even reserve a seat, but Murdoch was able to book the entire restaurant with a wave of his hand, which shows how influential this media tycoon is.

When Jed arrived at the restaurant, Murdoch hadn't arrived yet, so Jed could only silently drink a glass of red wine and wait quietly for Murdoch's arrival.He can't get angry, what right does he have to get angry?In the eyes of outsiders, he is just a dude who writes books, but he is a media tycoon with a lot of work.Such a person is willing to have a meal with him, it is smoke from the ancestral grave, what qualifications do you have to ask him to arrive on time.Just as Jed was thinking wildly, Murdoch had already arrived.

Although Murdoch showed a smile of "Corporal Lixian", the arrogance in his eyes still couldn't be concealed.Although Jed felt a little uncomfortable, he couldn't go.After all, it is oneself, not Murdoch, who is asking for help.After exchanging a few pleasantries with Murdoch, the two parties began to eat.Jed had to talk about his family's history before talking about his work.Every word he said implied Murdoch that I am not only a descendant of a prominent family, but also that I have a promising career.

When the fire was almost ready, Jed casually proposed the plan of the two parties to cooperate in the operation of satellite TV stations.At this moment, Murdoch's hands trembled slightly, and then he ate the steak on the dinner plate calmly. "Nephew, satellite TV is not so easy to do."

Murdoch's seemingly casual words are clearly warning Jed that satellite TV is my Murdoch's territory, and you should stay away from my territory.But how could Jed be intimidated? He smiled slightly and said, "I heard that Mr. Murdoch plans to acquire a satellite TV company in the United States recently, but the people in the Ministry of Commerce seem not happy to be run by a foreigner." Satellite television business in the US. I think Mr Murdoch needs a proxy and I would be a very good one."

"Really?" Murdoch smiled faintly. "If I need an agent, I think I can find many."

"But do they understand the TV business? Do they understand how the media works? Most importantly, my identity can help you a lot." Jed tried to sell himself.And Jed believes that the future TV will make the audience more active, and the audience will have greater initiative to participate in the program. Jed even proposed the concept of "interactive TV".

Jade also talked about the trend of professionalization of TV channels, and believed that future TV channels will specialize in a certain type of program, and the concept of integrated channels is bound to become a thing of the past.A TV channel without its own characteristics and characteristics will be eliminated by the audience in the next ten years.

Murdoch was shocked by Jade's statement. He thought he was a person who knew the TV media very well.But compared with Jed's vision, he had to admit that he seemed a bit old and not so courageous.

Murdoch was silent for a while, and then said: "Mr. Sherman, come to my company. Vice Chairman of the News Corporation Board of Directors and President of Fox Broadcasting Corporation, within five years I will provide you with 2% of News Corporation shares and 10 % of Fox Broadcasting Company shares. If I am satisfied with your performance after five years, I can assure you that you will be the successor of News Corporation in the future."

Jed was stunned for a moment, and had to say that Murdoch's offer was simply irresistible.But Jed didn't want to be involved in the succession of the Murdoch family. Even Deng Wendi, who was next to him, was kicked out by Murdoch in the end, let alone himself as an outsider.Jed smiled, "Mr. Murdoch, to tell you the truth, my goal is to build a media empire like yours."

"Oh?" Murdoch, who had read countless people, of course saw Jed's fascination at that moment, but he soon found that the young man's mentality immediately adjusted back. "Then why should I cooperate with my future opponent? Mr. Sherman, give me a reason!"

"Your future opponent may not necessarily be your current opponent. What's the matter with someone who can become your future opponent? A weak person?" Jed responded with a smile, "We have a common purpose, and my ability has been recognized by you , why can't we cooperate?"

"I hope I won't regret this cooperation in the future!" Murdoch stretched out his hand, "After the acquisition of the satellite company is successful, you will own 51% of the controlling stake. However, no matter who sells the shares between us, the other party has priority In the next three years, we will not propose to issue additional shares. The management right is in your hands, but I have the right to make decisions, how about it?"

"Deal!" Jed took Murdoch's hand.